Hi Folks,
I should have replied to this thread sooner . Like so many of the other breweries in Ireland now we have been busier than ever. Also with the plans for the new brewery well under way we have been looking at ways at streamlining the business here now and going forward.
To this end we contract kegged stout that caused an infection in the the beer. This as soon as I was made aware was taken off the market. As I am only finding my feet still in the new set up some slipped the net.
On Thursday I saw a post re Farringtons so I made it my business to travel there. The stout was not one of the inferior kegs and tasted just as it has always.
The question was also asked about contracting, yes up until very recently I was using one of the Irish breweries to take some pressure off me here. Once I got my new tanks in (4 not 2 as stated in another site) we stopped using them. I have used contract packagers over the last two years in the UK as have many other Irish breweries shipping under bond and back again. reason being the cost to do it here is simply to much.
We have now come to a crisis point again re capacity having run out of beer last month and will contract once again. This time we will be using Sharp's brewery in Cornwall. I have spent along time matching water quality etc to make sure the beer is the same as it would have if it came out of here. We have also gone there to brew test batch's ourselves at the Sharps brewery.
Those of you who know me understand that I am in it because I love it. The quality is a reflection of our team here who currently work around the clock to get beer out. The specials we have produced here this year have been in tiny batch's due to my capacity issues but have still managed to gain awards at the highest levels worldwide.
Am I taking a back seat now that Molson Coors are involved. Most definitely not. My new brewery will be up and running next year and the plans for new beers in 2014 are very exciting. If I feel the quality slips in any way due to contracting until then I will take that beer off the market.
Both Ruben and Andrew have my mobile number should anyone wish to ask me any questions
regards
shane
